Trace-support.



J. DONAVAN. TRACE SUPPORT. APPLICATION IYILED APR. 2, 190.8. 903 ,363. Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Wilmgooao rein JOHN DONAVAN, OF RANTOUL, ILLINOIS.

TRACE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed April 2, 1908. Serial No. 424,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DONAVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rantoul, in the county of Champaign and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Trace-Support, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to trace supports and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide interlocking members adapted to be applied to harness traces and which may be so interlocked or engaged as to positively hold the end portions of the traces in elevated positions over the back of the animal when the traces are not connected with the swingletree of the vehicle. The said members are so formed as to engage each other whereby one of the traces may lie flat against the back of the animal and the parts are so dis posed that the members will not interfere or come in contact with the sides or flanks of the animal when the traces are connected with the swingle-tree.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a pair of traces with the supporting members attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the supporting members interlocked, and Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the supporting members disconnected from the traces.

The member 1 is attached to the inner side of the trace 2 and is provided at its lower edge with a shelf portion 3 which passes under the trace 2 and extends beyond the outer side thereof. The shelf 3 is provided at a point beyond the outer side of the trace 2 with a perforation 4: and the reduced passage 5 extends from the outer edge of the shelf 3 into the said perforation 4:- The member 6 is attached to the inner side of the trace 7. Said member is provided at its upper edge with a neck 8 at the upper end of which is located a ball or head 9. The ball 9 is greater in diameter than the perforation 4 of the member 1. The neck 8 is oblong in transverse section and its shorter transverse dimension is less than the width of the passage 5 while its longer transverse dimension is greater than the width of the passage 5. The neck 8 is inclined over the upper edge of the trace 7 so that the ball 9 is located The members 1 and 6 are attached to the traces 2 and 7 at points intermediate of the ends thereof, suitable securing devices being provided for this purpose.

lVhen the traces are not in use and it is desired to secure the same together in elevated positions over the back of the animal the traces are thrown over the back of the animal and the neck 8 is passed through the passage 5 until it enters the perforation l. As the longer dimension of the neck 8 lies in a plane parallel with the plane occupied by the trace 7 it is necessary to give the trace 7 a twist or turn equal to a quarter of a circle in order to pass the neck 8 along the recess 5. When, however, the said neck enters the perforations 4: it may turn therein so that the trace 7 may assume generally its original disposition or alinement. By reason of the fact that the neck 8 is inclined over the edge of the trace 7 when the members are interlocked they will assume substantially the relative positions as shown in Fig. 2 in which it will be seen that the trace 7 may lie flat against the back of the animal while the trace 1 is held in an inclined position. Furthermore, the disposition of the neck 8 holds the ball 9 away from the flanks of the animal when the traces are connected with the swingle-tree of the vehicle. To disconnect the members of the trace support the operation above described is reversed. Thus it will be seen that a support having special utility is provided which consists of two members of simple construction and which may be easily and readily applied to the traces of harness and which will effectually support the same when interlocked,- upon the back of the animal notwithstanding the jarring and movement of the body of the animal, to which the said members will be subjected while interlocked.

A further advantage gained is that it is not necessary to tie knots or loops in the traces to hold them over the back of the animal and the parts are so simple in construction that they may be interlocked and disconnected with great ease and rapidity.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A trace support comprising a pair of members one of which is attached to each trace, one of said members having a shelf portion lying under its trace and being prosubstantially vertically above the said trace. 1 vided with a perforation and a reduced pas sage; the other member having a neck and tion of the other member.

2. A trace support comprising a pair of members each of which is attached to one trace, one member having a shelf portion lying under the trace to Which it is attached and being provided With a perforation and a reduced passage; the other member having a neck inclined over the upper edge of the trace to which it is attached, the transverse dimension of said neck in one direction being less than the-transverse dimen sion of said passage and the transverse dimension of said neck in another direction 7 being greater than the transverse dimension of said passage and a ball located at the end of said neck and being greater in diameter than the diameter of the perforation of the other member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signature 25 in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN DONAVAN. WVitnesses:

JAMEs F. CLARK, SAMUEL LIVINGSTON. 

